From Malawi maximum prison to Grammy awards nominees




The Zomba prison project.

For hundreds of thousands of Malawians, it will be the first time they will be hearing their country mentioned during a Grammy award ceremony.
No Malawian musician or band has ever won or even been nominated for the prestigious award.
However, thanks to Malawi’s Zomba Central Prison.
Not for a prison break, but for producing a music album that not only Malawians, but the world can love.
The 20-song album was recorded in 2013 by visiting American Grammy-winning producer Ian Brenner.

The group’s album, “I have no everything here”, was recorded behind prison walls in Zomba, Malawi.

In 2008, the band was formed with a startup of $800 for purpose of entertaining inmates.

With the money donated by an HIV/AIDS awareness agency, the group was able to purchase basic music instruments.

The Acting Prison Commissioner Dinizulu Mtengano’s who has an eye for talent spotted the musicians when he visited Zomba Central Prison.
At the time, the group played their music using handmade guitars cut out from empty containers.
Many of the group members are serving life sentences for convictions including murder.

(Source) The Guardian Online

Due to the laws protecting the flow of information in and out of the prisons in that country, some of the inmates are not even aware that their band had been nominated.
It’s also unlikely whether any of the inmate band members will be allowed to travel to Los Angelos where the awards ceremony is expected to be held in February 2016.
Producer, Ian Brenner admits getting to record an album with the prison band had not been an easy task.
He speaks of challenges faced in getting permission as well as trust from the inmates and prison commissioner.
The prison band may not have generated millions of dollars in revenue but they definitely are gaining the trust of millions of listeners.
Music is big business in Malawi though much of it remains within the borders of the landlocked country.



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